Grave Insight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 2) by Lily Harper Hart Read Free Book Online

blackberry jam,” he said. “I loved summers with your mom.”
    “She was great,” Maddie said, her gaze distant. Her mother’s ghost was still hanging around, but it wasn’t the same as having a flesh-and-blood person who could hold her.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, Mad,” Nick said. “I shouldn’t have brought her up.”
    “No,” Maddie said, shaking her head. “I like to hear stories about her. It just made me think of her for a second. Maybe we could make some jam this summer? I’ve never done it, but she left me a whole book of recipes.”
    Nick snickered. “You can’t cook.”
    “I can cook,” Maddie protested.
    “What have you ever cooked?”
    “I cooked you pancakes a couple of weeks ago,” Maddie pointed out. “I even put blueberries in them. I didn’t hear you complaining.”
    “I stand corrected,” Nick said. “Lift that screen up, will you?”
    Cassidy’s gaze shifted between the two friends. “When did you make him breakfast?”
    Maddie faltered. “Oh, um … .”
    “What does it matter?” Nick snapped. The hurt look on Cassidy’s face told him his words were harsh, but he was so annoyed with her insistence on inviting herself into Maddie’s home he could barely think straight.
    “I was just asking a question,” Cassidy said.
    “Well, don’t,” Nick replied, grunting as he settled the unit in the window. “Hold this here, Mad.”
    Maddie did as instructed, watching as Nick fastened the unit in the window.
    “Okay,” he said. “Let it go and pull the window down snug on top.” Nick studied his handiwork for a moment. “I am awesome.”
    “Yes, you should have one of those home improvement shows,” Maddie teased.
    “Maude, I’m trusting you to stuff that foam stuff in around the edges,” Nick said.
    Maude saluted. “Yes, sir.”
    “Let’s move upstairs,” Nick said.
    “I can help carry the units up,” Cassidy volunteered.
    “There’s only two of them,” Nick said. “Why don’t you stay down here and make sure that it’s working properly?”
    Cassidy’s face was conflicted. “I … .”
    “I’ve got some nice iced tea,” Maude said. “The rooms up there are small. We’ll just be getting in their way.”
    Cassidy pressed her lips together, caught. “Of course.”
     
    MAUDE filled two glasses with ice cubes and tea, and then settled in one of the open chairs at the dining room table. She pushed one of the glasses toward Cassidy, who was nervously fidgeting in another chair.
    “Do you want to talk about it?” Maude asked.
    Cassidy jerked her head up. “Talk about what?”
    “Cassidy, I don’t know you very well,” Maude said. “What I do know doesn’t seem to mesh with the woman I’ve seen tonight. I think you’ve got a lot on your mind. I have a feeling I know exactly what it is that’s bothering you, too. You might as well get it off your chest.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Oh, girl, I’m too old to play games,” Maude said. “I can see you’ve got your claws out and you’re digging into Nick’s flesh like you think someone is about to snatch him away. The problem is, he’s already gone.”
    “What are you talking about? He took me out for a romantic dinner tonight. He’s not gone. He’s mine.”
    Maude sighed. “I know you’re desperate to hold onto Nick, but you can’t. Deep down, you know that, right?”
    “You’re just saying that because you want your precious granddaughter to win,” Cassidy spat.
    “Love isn’t a prize,” Maude said. “Love just … is. You have to know that Nick doesn’t love you. He never did. I’m not saying that to hurt you. It’s important that you get some perspective, though. You’re only hurting yourself by acting this way.”
    “And what way am I acting?” Cassidy asked.
    “Like a woman who has already lost and can’t admit it,” Maude said. “Just … think about it. Do you really want to try and force Nick to stay when he obviously wants to go?”
    “That